Aquathermy research

Ecological research

HHNK is conducting an ecological study on the effect of TEO on life in surface water in cooperation with Rijnland and Waternet. 

If the effects are known, they can be taken into account in the future. The knowledge is used to improve surface water life with this technique or to reduce possible adverse effects. One of the research sites is in the Broekpolder in the municipality of Heemskerk. Measurements were recently taken here. This research complements "Warmingup," a national research program on aquathermy.

Thermal energy from wastewater

The study focuses on the effects of extracting heat from wastewater. This concerns both the incoming water stream and the outgoing water stream. The first stream is the untreated water coming from homes and businesses that enters the treatment plant. The second stream is the outgoing treated wastewater returning to the water system.

With the first water flow, it is important that the water in the treatment plant not get too cold. Otherwise, the bacteria that purify the wastewater can no longer do their job properly and the water becomes less clean. Therefore, the temperature progression of the wastewater from household to the treatment plant and what the extraction of heat does to the bacteria is examined.

In the second stream, research focuses on the effects of discharging colder treated wastewater to surface water.

Learn more

For more information, contact our aquathermy team colleagues at: aquathermie@hhnk.nl